Police chief explains why Nazis are allowed to march

The Nordic Resistance Movement at a rally in Falun. Credit: Ulf Palm/TT

The neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement is seeking to hold a rally in Gothenburg next month, and the city's police force says this is part of a growing trend.

The neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) is seeking to hold a rally on 30 September, outside the Göteborg Book Fair.

"We haven't given them a permit yet, but we're in discussions with them, and we are doing our evaluation of the situation concerning public safety and public order," said Erik Nord, head of the Greater Gothenburg police.

In the event's promotional material, the NMR labels politicians and journalists as "criminals", and encourages their supporters to "revolt" against them.

The police head explained that as long as the neo-Nazi group is not explicitly inciting violent attacks against politicians and journalists, they are not commiting a crime.

A lot of people feel threatened and provoked by seeing Nazis marching on the streets. But Swedish legislation is constructed in a way which means we cannot ban demonstrations just because they are Nazis. It must be connected to public order and safety.

Erik Nord, head of the Greater Gothenburg police

"I think that far-right extremists have become more active in the past years. They are more active today than five or six years ago," he said.

Nord is confident that the group will be able to successfully secure a permit.